2018 end of year releases

Wednesday, 26 March 2014

This fortnight, it is with much pleasure I welcome J. M. Bray, with a bite of hisMending the Shroud.

Mending the Shroud is Book 2 in the Shroud Series. Mending the Shroud is currently submitted to Escape Publishing and I anticipate a mid-year release. We will see!

Can you, in less than five words describe your book Mending the Shroud? Romantic, Fantasy, Exciting, Tense, Heroic

Who would you get to play your heroine in a movie?
There are many heroines in The Shroud series, in fact they outnumber the men. One that’s featured in Mending the Shroud is Sari. Julianne Hough would be my first pick to play her if they made the movie now.

What inspired you to write it?
Though Book 1, Tearing the Shroud, comes to a nice conclusion in the main story, the sub-plots and characters left some unanswered possibilities. Mending the Shroud carries the story forward, picking up a month later. This one really ties things up…but there is a third novel coming. Muuuhahahaaaa

And here's the excerpt....

The Master stepped from the shadows behind the sprawling house in Mission Hills and adjusted his black jacket. As he approached the darkened window, a disembodied head floated toward him, silver hair shimmering in the moonlight and features like a statue by Michelangelo—a perfect reflection of perfect anger. He peered through the glass, searching the interior of the dark house. Justus was not inside. Placing his nose near the joint of the closed French doors, he inhaled deeply. Ah…yes cleaning chemicals and what’s this? Blood. The odor sent a ripple of pleasure up his spine. He licked his lips and his tongue tingled as it glided over his rows of pointed teeth.

Justus was dead.

He knew it as surely as if he had killed the man and sucked the marrow from his bones, something he had been looking forward to savoring.

He turned and scanned the back yard. A large gouge of dirt furrowed the manicured lawn and the patio furniture was absent. Can no one perform a task properly? How difficult could it be to dispatch a college student? He growled, giving vent to the roiling frustration within him and dogs in the nearby houses started to howl at the deep resonant sound. He shook his head, stifling the urge to tear the place apart with his bare hands. “Graah…”

He stalked past the crest of the hill, to gaze down to a smaller patio. A single loud clap sounded into the night and something moved sinuously along the ground. A small creature turned its deformed head toward him, its eyes glowing red in the night. His anger abated at the sight. A Kafla. “Ah our pet, you made it. Come to us.”

The little Tracker shook its head, its one shredded ear flapping with a light slap and trotted over. The long claws of its four paws cut into the ground. He reached down and stroked its hairless back. “Yes, we are glad you are here, little Tatterear. Something happened in this yard, in this home. There has been blood spilt, we smell several types about. Find the scent of the one who lived, and follow it. When you locate him, call your siblings to you, and rend the flesh from his bones.” Tatterear arched its back then lowered its front legs, bowing then trotted up the hill.

He looked at the place where the creature had appeared. “One has made it at last, the first of many.” he said quietly then stepped into the nearest shadow and disappeared.

Thanks for that awesome excerpt J. M. Good luck with your submission!

If you'd like to know more about J. M. Bray and his books check out the links below.

Tuesday, 25 March 2014

Welcome to this week's good news.... coming to you this week by Cheryse Durrant

ARRA AWARD WINNERS

Readers, authors, editors, book bloggers descended on Sydney this weekend gone for the 6th Annual Australian Romance Readers Awards. The dinner was a Cello's Restaurant in Sydney's CBD and the ballroom was packed! During the delicious three-course meal, keynote speaker, Helene Young and her cast of author-actors, entertained the crowd with a romantic suspense of murder, mayhem and men in handcuffs until the real culprit was found.

As winners were announced this year, the lucky name seemed to be Kylie!

The Favourite Sci-Fi, Fantasy or Futuristic Romance 2013 was awarded to Allegiance Sworn by Kylie Griffin (pictured on the night with Dakota Harrison, below). This year, the award was sponsored by Steam eReads and presented by Nicola Pitt. Alliance Forged (#2 Light Blade series) won this award last year, so this is a back-to-back win for Kylie. Congratulations!

Favourite Erotic Romance 2013 went to Skin, written by Kylie Scott (pictured below). This award was sponsored by eXtasy Books and presented by Khul Waters (on behalf of eXtasy). Kylie's award was accepted by Joel Naoum from Momentum Books.

Kylie Scott also won Favourite Australian Romance Author 2013. This award was presented by Tony Nash on behalf of the sponsor Booktopia, and was accepted by Haylee Nash on behalf of Kylie.

Darksiders wish to thank the Australian Romance Readers Association for their hard work and dedication in running these annual awards.

ABOVE: Darksiders MJ Scott and Bec McMaster enjoy a night out for the ARR Awards.

She wants to kill him. He wants to possess her body and give her ultimate pleasure.

Isabella suffered an unimaginable loss at the teeth and claws of a vicious nightmix. She grew up wanting nothing more than to hunt and kill every last shape shifting black panther in the kingdom.

What she doesn’t expect is to go from hunter to hunted. Never expects to be captured by the nightmix monster, Reuben, and taken to his cabin, where he plays her body like a finely tuned instrument. Their erotic connection is explosive, but Reuben is the enemy.

Teshco recently received some top reviews for her earlier novels in the Nightmix series. Book 1, Lusting the Enemy, received five stars, while Book 2, Abducting the Princess, received 4.5 stars.

REVIEWS

Khloe Wren has received great reviews for two of her books.

Kris on Amazon gave Jaguar Secrets a five-star rating, saying she couldn't put it down. "I would love to read more of Cammi and the boys... and speaking of the boys. Hot damn. Smooth talking, sizzling sexy jaguar shifters make this book perfect." Full review here.

Smile Somebody Loves You upgraded their rating of Cinderella's Guardian (Khloe Wren) when they fell for the novel's hero. "Conner is a sexy fireman and a leopard shifter. Is a hotter pairing possible? His desire to protect his love, as well as his willingness to show emotions were a major factor in his likability." Full review here.

Saturday, 22 March 2014

Welcome to another Enchanted Orb with Danielle Belwater who shares with us her love of music and her muse.

Having been a West Coast Swing dancer and teacher in a former incantation of myself, music is in my soul. Every song has a story to tell if you listen hard enough.

One of my favourite games to play in the car is ‘story in a song’. (That’s not a real game, I made it up.) I’ll hear a song on the radio or iPhone and will make up characters and a plot to the suit the song. Some songs talk louder than others depending on the tone or words if they are particularly emotive. However; this has often resulted in having to pull over on the side of the road to scribble it down.

The song Wide Awake by Katy Perry provides such a rich fantastical tale. I wrote a short story of twelve year old Triny, who discovers the living marble statue of a woman in a field of bluebells, dressed in nothing but the pages of books. Triny finds that the words on the aging pages hold the story of her young but tragic life. To escape her menacing great aunt, Triny must navigate a labyrinth of danger and face her fears to find the key. The key unlocks a bookcase that holds the magical tome, in which she can alter her destiny.

The first book in my Japanese myth series that I’m currently writing came from the song Let Her Go, by Passenger. It tells the story of Michio Hunter who falls in love with the ghost, Reika. Reika is trapped, forever haunting the cherry blossom forest where her murdered body lays hidden. Michio is the only one who can save Reika’s soul from the clutches of the Underworld, but in doing so, she will be allowed into Heaven and he will lose her.

Which brings me to Of Fire & Roses. I had the song Never Let Me Go by Florence + The Machine on repeat. Hidden amongst its haunting lyrics and soulful melody were such detailed characters and a rich story.

Songs can be interpreted in many ways but this song to me, speaks of the cruel pain of separation where only death can bring relief. While the majority of romance novels are written from the heroine’s point of view, strangely enough it was Nate that was doing the talking. It was his pain that I was hearing throughout the words of the song. He was seeing his love from another place, another astral plane and it was his pain of being separated from Cora that called out.

Originally a stand alone, as I wrote, other characters appeared that shouted at me to tell their stories as well. So there are at least another two, possibly three books to come.

So that is where my muse hides, amongst the bars of a tune and the lilting hum of a melody.

BLURB

Nathaniel West’s mother is dead, his father a lost cause. Anger has become a way of life, until he meets and falls in love with Cora Ewell. Only Cora has a secret, one that could kill them both.

An age old dark magic resurfaces and it becomes a race against time for Cora and Nate to find the long buried secrets to saving everyone they love and each other.

After a near fatal accident leaves Nate in limbo, he must find a way to get through to Cora before time runs out and she is forced into life eternal with the evil wizard, Elias Stafford.

Danielle Belwater adores the concept of true love and truly believes everyone has their Prince Charming or Snow White out there somewhere, even if they have to fight demons, ghosts, and wizards to find it.

Danielle has been having a love affair with words since she was young and in primary school, writing some rather imaginative tales. This love has followed her into adulthood.

She lives in rural South Australia with her husband, young daughters and way too many animals to mention. She spends most of her time dreaming up characters, stories, ghostly tales, and watching Firefly re-runs. She also cooks the odd meal for her family to avoid them looking like skeletons at official author functions!

Danielle is passionate about reading and her interests include pretty much anything with words from rolling four volume epics to the daily newspaper.

Friday, 21 March 2014

This was a hard review to write as there are so many conflicting impressions left now that I've finished the book. I've been hanging out for Quinn and Blay's story yet I have to say now that I've read it I don't know whether I truly enjoyed it or not. Let me try to explain why.

I'm a huge fan of JRWard and the BDB series but over the last few books I've found the divergent plot lines and introduction of new characters hard to integrate and keep track of.

Getting into Love At Last was difficult because of these issues. Every time secondary character plot lines cropped up, and drew me away from Blay and Quinn's story I have to admit it was hard not to skim so I could get back to their story.

I can see why Ward has introduced these secondary characters and plot lines but I really do believe this detracted from the enjoyment of Blay and Quinn's story. What I read of it was bloody fantastic but I felt cheated because so much else was going on and their romance/story suffered because of it. It felt...disjointed and the usual intensity of emotion Ward conveys so darn well in her characters and their particular stories, while there, the potential lacked the sharp intensity usually present.

I came away wanting to read more in this series, although I have to admit now most of the main character's stories have been written, I'm not sure which character will be next.

This book is definitely not one to pick up and read without having read the others in the series.

Imogene
Nix

Wild Things by Chloe Neill

I've just finished Wild Things (umm I already want more!)

Where do I even start? Book 9 and I still can't get enough of the storyline. Ethan and Merit are sensational together and wow! Thanks Chloe Neill for the payoff between them. Totally. Awesome.

But I'm going to be holding my breath until the next instalment. What will happen with the GP? When will we see where the prophecy is going? Where will Gabe, Tanya, Catcher, Mallory, Fallon, Jeff and now Damien feature in this?

I'm also hanging out to see what will happen. Wasn't there a prophecy involving Merit one day having her own house? Will that happen when/if Ethan becomes the head of the GP or where?

So many questions, so many opportunities. But quickly, you have everything in this book. Sorcery, harpies, werewolves, vampires, (those amazingly annoying) nymphs, sylphs and even now the odd giantess. Seth Tate turns up again - but no spoilers - and the situation remains dangerous.

Chicago has a lot happening all the time with more politicians who are really crooked and of course what will happen to the RG and Jonah (who also appear in this book) is anybody's guess.

Oh and lets not forget Morgan getting a little roughed up as well as Scott Grey. And lastly, Cadogan House once again comes out the winner.

Please Chloe Neill, keep writing this series, because IT ROCKS!

Jenny SchwartzHalf-Off Ragnarok by Seanan McGuire

I've been waiting for "Half-Off Ragnarok" by Seanan McGuire FOREVER! I love her Incryptid series, and this third instalment didn't disappoint. I can't share any spoilers, but if you're an Aussie, you'll adore this American's re-imagining of our cryptozoology.

Janni NellThe Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I’ve just read The Hunger Games. Yeah, I know, I’ve been living under a rock for the last few years. Anyways, whatever, all I can say about that book is: I LOVED IT!!!!! Suzanne Collins you are a legend!!! What a great idea!!! Such a brilliant plot!!! And a truly loveable character in Katniss. The voice was wonderful and while we’re on voice—so amazing how Jennifer Lawrence embodied that voice in the movie, she did more than just play Katniss. And, at the risk of using up my quota of exclamation marks for the next ten years… Did I mention I loved the movie too!!! One of the best book to screen adaptations ever!!!!
Okay, now I can get back to reading Catching Fire….

Tuesday, 18 March 2014

Selina Codecko is an Indy Pilot… without the citizenship of the Federation, she’s treated like a second class citizen. But when she’s caught up in a brawl she’s arrested and in the hands of the Justice Officers.

Renjiro Ito has dreamed of a woman for five long years. As the Commander of the Justice Officers, the plight of one woman will turn his life upside down.

But there’s more going on than just the fate of one woman. The chances of a future together are slim, but they’ll take any chances that come their way. Will it be enough?

Buy Link:Amazon US ... or find out more about Imogene Nix and her novels here.Sexy Sassy Romance That’s Out Of This World

CONTRACTS

Dani Kristoff has announced thatThe Sorcerer's Spell, a hot and slightly dark paranormal romance set in Canberra and surrounds, will be published with Harper Impulselater in 2014.

A. Ostrow (Lexi) of Book Bliss gave Of Fire & Roses five stars saying "I loved that this was a male dominated world (in terms of POV). I always like new/less done things and I feel like in romance when novels pick one POV it's normally female. Having a male narrator only really set the book off right for me and got me involved right away. The writing itself flowed well from scene to scene and the pacing was perfect from start to finish. "

Sasha Hibbs also gave five stars, describing it as 'a gem of a novel'. "Of Fire and Roses is bursting with vivid description making me feel that I was not only reading the novel, but that I was there. It's truly a mesmerizing, fiery, haunting novel with an incredible start to an amazing new series. I believe Danielle Belwater will be an author to watch out for, a wonderful addition to the young adult genre."

Leisl Leighton'sDark Moon has attracted some impressive reviews since last week's launch.

Kimberly's Reviews gave the paranormal romance a shining four out of five stars.

"I really enjoyed this story. There are witches, wiccan, wolf shifters, ghosts, and so much more. The main characters... had a connection from the moment they were together. If you are a fan of paranormal, pick this one up."

Fellow GoodReads enthusiast Heather Andrews gave the novel five stars, saying it was packed with chemistry. "I hope to hell that Adam's brother Jason gets his own story
because I loved him just as much as (the main characters)."

Wednesday, 12 March 2014

1Can
you, in less than five words describe your book/story Candy Cane Dancer?

No, but I can do it in six: erotic,
explicit, captivity, dubious consent, disturbing

Who is your favourite character in this book? This is always a
hard question to answer. I like my werewolf captain and Rajanigandha, the
nagini. I also like the slightly deluded and hopeful Martinette, but I think my
favourite character has to be Selene, the margot fairy who was meant to be the
central character to this novel. She has the immortality of fairies, but has
grown to care for those around her in a way that many fairies don’t—and
certainly not the Scottish fey. Overcoming her fear of werewolves to
acknowledge her attraction to the werewolf captain heading the hunt for the
serial killer stalking the club, is just one example of her ability to adapt.
Preparing to face down the killer is an example of her courage. She deserved a
romance of her own, but ended up sharing a dark tale of erotica with the enemy
she had to hunt, and did so very graciously.

3What
inspired you to write it?

I think the inspiration came while I was
while reading a book on different kinds of fairies (which I cannot find and
cannot remember the title of – frustrating, as I want to buy it for my
bookshelf). Anyway, there was a section about a German fairy called a margot
who loved to dance and adored sweets, and a section about an evil male sea
fairy who played beautiful music and then killed his victims, trapping their
souls in a bottle. I was, at the time, writing a piece about a werewolf-run
gentleman’s club (not based around pole dancing) and decided to have another
club in the locality where dancing was the feature, because what else would a
margot fairy be doing in modern times (and don’t say Swan Lake, although that is an idea). The sea fairy became a threat
to the dance club, and the story kind of grew from there, but not with the
margot as the main focus as I had originally planned. This tale ended up a lot
darker than I originally intended, metamorphosing into a tale of erotica and suspense,
as opposed to the erotic romantic suspense I originally intended to write.

Here's the excerpt...
(abridged to remove the naughtiest bits)

“Are
you a vampire?” Martinette asked, feeling her face rapidly lose its look of
lazy post-coital contentment. “You should have told me.”

“Then there’d have been no surprise,” Hubert replied,
shifting to wrap an arm around her shoulders, and crushing her to his chest.
She wrapped her arms around him and arched against him.

“Are you going to kill me now?” she asked.

“No, but you live because I want you to dance for me,
again,” he murmured, letting his lips brush her ear lobe. He shifted against
her. Martinette gasped, but it wasn’t one of protest.

“So, you’ll kill me later?”

“Not necessarily,” he said. “I am growing fond of
you.” He slowly laid her on the floor and she pillowed her head on one arm and
gazed up at him. Her expression showed confusion and pleasure, and just a
little fear, the emotions rushing across her face as he started again, letting
her feel how her body reacted to his, seeing the moment when she thrust the
fear aside to accept the pleasure he offered. That acceptance was flavored by
apprehension when he spoke again. “Don’t make me change my mind.”

He dipped his mouth to the small tear he’d made at the
base of her throat and licked it, raising his head, so she could see her blood
on his lips.

“You taste good,” he said, watching her eyes widen
half in horror, and half in surprise, “and there’s a large part of me that
wants to drain you dry, but I like your body. I love the way you move it when
you dance, and I love the way you feel.”

He propped himself on his elbows so he could watch the
battle of emotions raging across her face. One part of her couldn’t resist the
purely physiological reaction her body was having to his, one part of her
fascinated that she could be enjoying something with a creature like him, and
one part terrified of what he might do next.

“I’m going to let you live just a little while
longer,” he said. “How much longer is up to you. I love the way you dance. Say
you’ll dance for me, Martinette. Say you want to live.”

He saw the moment she gave in to her desire to
survive.

“I’ll dance for you,” she whispered, and as she
relaxed beneath him, he gently tilted her head sideways and drank.

She tasted divine, but Hubert knew he had to stop,
that the rest of his hunger would have to be sated by the salmon and reef fish
he’d had his servants prepare. It was a hard-fought thing. He desperately
wanted more, to drain her dry as he had the dancer he’d taken two nights ago,
to feel her death throes as he rode her over the edge and desecrated her
still-warm corpse.

Martinette was lucky he loved the way she responded to
his music. She was lucky she could make him jealous of the pole on his private
stage. She was lucky she drew him in a way he could not explain. As much as he
didn’t want to acknowledge it, for the first time in a century Martinette, his
flame-haired dancer, made him feel something for his intended prey. And it felt
good.

Slowly standing, Hubert gave a soft whistle, summoning
his servants.

“Care for her,” he ordered. “Give her private quarters
and see to her comforts. Feed her like a queen, for she has my heart.”

Even as the words left his mouth, Hubert was surprised
to find they were true.

With a small smile of surprised satisfaction, he
returned to his chair and retrieved his flute. While he often travelled without
it, tonight he wanted it nearby, at least until he went hunting. There were
other dancers at the Candy Cane.

Thank you so much for sharing!

If you'd like to find out more about Ellie Moonwater and her books, check out the website below

Tuesday, 11 March 2014

Grave Robber for Hire by Cassandra L Shaw is out now on eBook and the paperback will be available in roughly three weeks.

Grave Robber for Hire. Reasonable rates. Do Family legends hint at lost family treasures? Have writing from ancestors I can use to jump-time? Call me: Angel Meyers. No psychic readings or ghost exorcisms (that’s not my gig).

Angel Meyers loves cheesecake and hot men, possesses I-catch-cute-guys cleavage, and is the only person she knows with her gift. Her talent for touching handwritten documents and connecting with the mind of the writer, dead or alive, lets her delve into the past and locate lost family treasure for her clients.

When she’s hired to locate a Rembrandt lost one hundred and fifty years ago, Angel sees a whole bundle of dollar signs. If she finds the painting, her fee would be enough to buy her much dreamed of animal rescue farm.

There’s just one tricky bit, when she touches the writing of Clyde Owen Jones, the last man to know the painting’s whereabouts, Angel feels a malevolence coming off the pages and realizes Clyde was pure evil.

But the evil doesn’t remain with the dead, it’s here now, and it wants the same thing Angel does—the Rembrandt and maybe her soul.

Can Tyreal the Private Investigator Angel found too hot not to hire and Viggo her guardian angel, protect her from herself and Hell’s evil?

Leisl Leighton's first paranormal romance, Dark Moon, the first in the
Witch-Were Chronicles, comes out with Destiny Romance on March 15.

Here's the blurb...
Lately, Skye Collins has been unable to shake the feeling that she's being watched. After a lifetime spent hiding her true nature, she knows that any unusual attention is something to be wary of. And the only attention she's been receiving lately is from the intense and attractive Jason McVale.

Jason claims to know things about Skye that can't be true, and it's obvious he's hiding secrets of his own. Yet despite herself, Skye can't resist the attraction between them, and her surrender will set in motion a chain of events that will have consequences for everyone she holds dear.

Gradually, Jason convinces Skye that she has to trust him if she is to solve the riddle of her past and learn the truth about her power. But believing Jason means that her entire life has been based on a lie.

As her enemies gather strength and the danger increases, Skye is forced to accept who she really is. Will she risk everything and fight for those she loves? Or save herself and let them be destroyed by the forces of darkness?

REVIEWS

Cassandra L Shaw'sGrave Robber for Hire has attracted a five-star review from KatieCO who describes the book as unique. "Angel has a fascinating gift, a hunk for a partner and a guardian angel." Full review HERE.

Saturday, 8 March 2014

How did you come to write speculative fiction? What attracted you to the genre?

The chance to use my imagination without the restrictions of other genres. I just love being able to throw angels, fairies, mermaids etc into my stories.

Are you a plotter? Pantser? Or somewhere in-between?

I’m a pantser, who really wishes she could plot. It would make submitting partials so much easier. Unfortunately, whenever I try to plot, I lose interest in the story. I just love sitting down to work on a first draft and not knowing what’s going to come next.

Do have a favourite of your characters?

The fourteen-fingered elf, who works as a masseur in Night of the Dark Horse. I want one of those

What are you currently working on?

The first book in another humorous mystery series. I can’t say too much about this at the moment because it’s very much a work in progress.

What is your favourite part of the process of writing?

Despite the fact that I dislike plotting, I actually love the editing process. It’s so great to have a first draft. I love focusing on refining everything and making it better.

Gattaca. Visually stunning, a great story and a wonderful hero. You gotta love a guy, who refuses to give up his dream despite the overwhelming odds against him succeeding. (No, he’s not a writer. ;-)) And that music… Oh my!

Do you have advice for emerging writers?

Um…don’t give up your day job? Probably not what you want to hear. I guess just to keep writing and learning. Remember that it’s a subjective business. Luck and timing can play a huge part in a book’s success or failure.

~~~

Thanks, Janni!

A teaser from Night of the Dark Horse

Just another typical week in the life of a paranormal investigator. I had barely arrived in Ireland to investigate a pooka terrorizing the villagers of Dingaleen when I got called to ride the fairy horse myself. When a pooka calls, you answer—and hold on for dear life. Unfortunately, the beast tossed me into a bog. Fortunately, my gorgeous guardian angel fished me out. Just barely. You see, Casper is still weak from tangling with an evil spirit on our last case. So he's not even much help to me in the land o' the green. The powers-that-be are even hinting at retirement… But I won't lose Casper. Not now. Not ever. As luck would have it, I have a chance, albeit a slim one, to save him and get the answers I need to solve the pooka case—if I just take a wee trip through Fairyland. Except angels aren't welcome there, humans can't eat, drink or sleep there, and time is running out.

Friday, 7 March 2014

One of our newest DarkSiders, Enisa Haines, continues her real life experiences!

Paranormal Phenomena

Another
encounter involved a friend. She was a young wife and mother, had just months
before given birth to her second child. A visit to the doctor for pain while
breastfeeding gave her devastating news. Breast cancer; a very aggressive form
that fed on hormones and spread through the body. The disease took her life six
months later. I didn’t see her during those months. I would often think of her
but gradually had trouble visualising her face. Until one early evening.

I
was out walking and suddenly had the urge to look up at the sky, and as clearly
as if she was right before me, I could see her face smiling down at me. I knew
what that meant. My friend was gone. I got the call the next morning. She’d
passed away just about the time I saw her in the sky. Can my visual be
explained scientifically? I think not.

A
few years later, I had a scheduled mammogram. The letter I received did not say
‘all clear’ as had been the case in previous examinations. This time a shadow
was found and I was to attend an ultrasound and if the news was grave a needle
biopsy would follow. I thought, cancer! But I wouldn’t know for two days and so
my emotions were a wreck. Then, the night before the ultrasound, I dreamed. I
was at a high-society party. I was puzzled. I didn’t know anyone. Why was I
there? I looked through the crowd, and there was my friend. My deceased friend.
I looked around. All the people must be dead. Why was I there with them? I
panicked and tried to leave but couldn’t move in the crush of people.

My
friend saw me. She approached, smiled and said, ‘hello.’ I croaked ‘hello,’
back but, fearful now, I couldn’t say another word. And there was something
very different about her. In life, my friend was tall and slim. In my dream she
was much taller than I remembered, stood more than a foot above everyone else,
and her shoulders were massive, like those of an American Gridiron player.

She
looked around at the crowd and then smiled again, as if to reassure me, but I
couldn’t stop looking at her shoulders. Why, I wondered, are they so big? I
didn’t dare ask the question, thinking it disrespectful, but the question kept
repeating in my mind. The question so consumed me I woke up shaking with it
reverberating in my head, and then immediately jerked to stillness when a voice
blasted through my mind, ‘To bear your burden.’

I
knew then the upcoming ultrasound would be nothing to worry about. My friend
had taken that upon herself. The ultrasound revealed a cyst, nothing of
concern. Just a dream, some might say. I disagree.

A
few years later, another friend called. Cancer, again. A feeling of dread came
over me, but I pushed it back. My friend would be okay. In that mode of
positivity, I bought a colourful potted plant for her to enjoy, walked back to
my car and placed the pot on the car’s roof. It would be safe there, I thought.
It wasn’t. A slight breeze drifted through the air as I walked out of the
shopping centre but when I opened the car door, the breeze gusted and blew the
plant to the ground.

Dirt
spilled out. The plant bent in places. My earlier dread returned and took hold.
I knew this was a sign. My friend wasn’t going to be able to fight the cancer.
My feeling of dread had been right. My friend passed away eighteen months
later. Dread and flowers breaking. Coincidence? For me, it was another example
of paranormal.

Enisa Haines is a founding member of RWA. She has previously written
romantic suspense but has discovered her real love is paranormal
romance. Her current ms was a finalist in the 2014 RWA Selling Synopsis
contest and has progressed to the 2nd round of the 2014 RWA Emerald
Award.